If I'm not mistaken you must have the Spanish input method installed -- when you connect your device to the PC, does Desktop Manager list that Spanish is installed? There are two "parts" - one is the input method, the other is Spanish language for all the Blackberry stuff. If you want your device left in English then you only need to install the input method alone.

(I'm going on my Pearl knowledge but I think all BB's are the same regarding this. It's been ages since I actually looked, going on memory here.)

I do what JSanders recommends. It also works for the upside down exclamation point. you can also toggle the accent marks for above and below characters. Works great!

I'm still curious, though -- do you have the Spanish input methods installed? I don't and cannot type the upside down question/exclamation, n-tilde, etc. JS (and yourself) are showing *how* to use it, I'm wondering if the 8300 is like the 8100 and it requires the input to be installed.

I just checked my Pearl and it works as JSanders and Aroc describe and I do not have the Spanish input installed. BTW - I am running v4.2.1.101 on my 8100.

That's gotta be it - on mine (no input installed, OS 4.2.0.73) I don't get the characters in any way (JS's method or just trying anything I can think of), it must be something they've added in 4.2.1.x and above.